Process of and apparatus for generating heat



G. REIS.

Patsnted Nov.l 1,1881.

Wem am BY l Y\ l Ssmfwmfew N. Puma Plwurumngmplmr, washington D. c,

(N0 Model.)

PROCESS OP AND APPARATUS POR GENERATING HEAT. Non

UNITED States PATENT anion,

GEORGE REIS, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING HEAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,094, dated November 1, 1881.

Application tiled March 1E?, 1881.

To all whom tt may concern Be it known that I, GEoRGnREIs, acitizen ofthe United States,residing at St. Paul,in the county otRamsey and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and usef'ul Process and Apparatus for GeneratingHeat in Furnaces,Stoves, Boilers, 85C., of which the following is a ,speciication.

My invention relates toa process for generating heat in furnaces, stoves, boilers, retorts, &c.;and it consists in bringing superhcated steam in contact with incandescent carbon, whereby hydrogen gas is generated and set free in a highly-heated condition, and then bringing said hydrogen gas in contact with hot air above said incandescent carbon, to'produce rapid combustion and an intense heat, as hereinafter set forth.

The invention further consists in the manner of arranging the apparatus whereby the above result is attained, as hereinafter set forth.

This process may be used in connection with furnaces, stoves, retorts, boilers, or any other apparatus in which it is desired to generate heat but for the purpose of illustration I show it in the accompanying drawings as applied to the combustonchamber of a steam-boiler, in Which- Figure l is a sectional side elevation, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation, and Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view, of combustion-chamberof a boiler with apparatus for producing my improved process arranged therein. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 5 is a sectional plan View, of an upright boiler, showing the variations necessary to be 1n adein adapting the process to a boilerof this construction.

The component elements of steam are hydrogen and oxygen. Vhen the two elements are separated from each other and the hydrogen thus set free is burned a great heat is generated. The more thorough the separation of the oxygen from thehydrogen the moreintense is the heat produced by the burning ofthe hydrogen. Carbon in a highly-heated state has a great afnity for oxygen, and the absorption of the oxygen by the carbon is proportionate to the amount or quantity of free uncouned carbon present. In the tiame of burning carbon (No model.)

onlyalimited amount of free carbon exists, and

when steam is injected into the llame only a partial and imperfect decomposition of the steam or the separation of the oxygen from the hydrogen results,becausc ofthelimited amount of free carbon present to absorb the oxygen; but if superheated steam is passed through a body of glowing coal, as well as through the ilame above, the large amount ot" free carbon presentin theincandescentfuel will take up and combine with a large proportion ot' the oxygen and set free the hydrogen ofthe steam. I therefore pass superheated steam through the incandescent carbon, as just stated, and then burn the hydrogen thus generated by admitting fresh hot air above the bed of incandescent fuel, the fresh hot air supplying the necessary free oxygen to support combustion.

A is the boiler, B the grate, O the steamf dome, D D the tlues, E the tire-door, and E2 the draft or ash-pit door, all arranged in the ordinary manner.

A short distance above the grate B, I arrange a series ot' pipes, a, running back and forth across the combustion-chamber, and provided With small perforations inthe lower side, through which steam may escape when run through the pipes, the steam being supplied through a branch pipe, b, connecting the pipes a with the steam-dome O, the pipes a beinglo- 'cated so as to inject the steam into the body of the incandescent carbon through which it passes.

F is another pipe, somewhat larger than the steam-pipe a, through which air from the outside is run, and passing into the combustionehamber through its side or end, and running forward near the grate and upward and backward some distance above the grate at F2, and supplied at this point with small perforations through which the air escapes, the direction of the air and steam being indicated by small arrows. A re of coal, coke, charcoal, wood, or other suitable fuel is built in the combustion-chamber, and when. a sufficient layer of incandescent carbon is formed and a sufficient amount of steam generated in the boiler a supply of the latter is permitted to ilow through the pipes b and a by opening the stop-cock c, and escape through the perforations in the IOO sides of the pipes a into the burning carbon. The steam, as it passes through the pipes b and a, is superheated to a temperature equal to that of the carbon surrounding the pipes,

y so that as soon as it comes in contact with the incandescent carbon it is decomposed, the oxygen of the steam uniting with and being absorbed by the carbon, and the hydrogen escaping at the top of the layer of coals. At the same time that the steam is turned on the cock d in the air-pipe F is opened, and acurrent ot' air, either by a blast-fan or in any other suitable manner, is caused to iiow through the pipes F and F2,- and escape through the perforations in the latter into the combustion chamber above the incandescent carbon. By passing the pipe F through the bed of the fire before it rises into the branch F2 the air is very highly heated, and escapes into the furnace in that condition and immediately unites with the highly-heated hydrogen, and creates a tierce combustion and intense heat. After the fire is well under way the usual fuel-door, E', and ash-pit door E2 are closed and the oxygen of the steam substituted for the oxygen of the air to continue the combustion. By this means a far greater degree of heat is generated than can be produced by the combustion of the carbon in the fuel. Where the pipes a and F enter the tire they will be covered by a thin layer of fire-cla y, asbeslus, or other indestructible material to protect them from the oxidizA ing eects of the fire.

Figs. 4 and 5 show the arrangement of the pipes a and F F2 when used in an upright boiler; but the action is precisely the same, the pipes being simply coiled, instead of being run in straight or serpentine lines.

I do not wish to confine myself to any particular manner of arranging the pipes, as they may be arranged in many ways; neither do I Wish to confine myself' to any particular form of combustion-chamber, as this process may be applied to any style or form of furnace, stove, retort, boiler, orother apparatus in which it is desired to generate heat.

I am aware that the production of h s drogen gas by passing steam through incandescent carbon is not new; but,'so far as I am aware, it is a novelty to superheat steam to a degree equal to the temperature ofthe fire surrounding it, and bringing it, when in that state, in direct contact with the incandescent carbon. It is also new to utilize hydrogen thus produced for generating heat by burning it inthe manner described.

I am also aware that it is not new to inject superheated steam or heated air, or steam and heated air, into the flame in a furnace.

Among the many advantages I claim for this process is that by heating the air before it comes in contact with the hydrogen a sutiicient supply of fresh oxygen is afforded above the incandescent carbon to produce the necessary combustion without lowering the temperature of the fire.

The perforations for the escape of the steam and air in the pipes a F may be made in any portion of the pipes or of any suitable size or form.

When wood is used as a fuel the air-pipes will be arranged to extend along the interior sides of the combustion-chamber and end in a circle secured to the top of the furnace, so that theinterior of the furnace will be unobstructed, wood requiring more room and less obstruction than coal, 83e. Guard-bars or other protectors will also be arranged over the pipes in \voodfur11aces, to protect them from the wood when it is thrown in.

What I claim isl. The process herein described for generating heat, consisting in passing snperheated steam through incandescent carbon and then bringing in contact with the hydrogen gas thus generated abovetheincandescent carbon highly-heated air, substantially as set forth.

2. In a furnace, the combination of a series of pipes, a., provided with perforations for the escape of steam, and a series of pipes, F' F2, provided with perforations for the escape of air, the steam-pipes being arranged so as to lie within a bcd of incandescent carbon, and the air-pipes arranged so as to pass through it and have their perforated portion above the surface thereof, whereby the steam will pass up through the bed of carbon and the air will be heated and discharged above the bed of carbon, there to be combined with the liberated hydrogen gas, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. GEORGE REIS.

Witnesses C. N. WooDwARD, LoUIs FEnsER, Sr. 

